Print control apparatus, print control method, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

It is determined whether printing of an image having a size corresponding to a preset size set as print settings for data to be printed on a print medium is allowed based on the preset size and one or more candidates of the size of the print medium obtained by detecting the size of the print medium using a sensor. If it is determined that the printing is allowed, a screen inquiring whether an image based on the data to be printed having a size corresponding to the preset size is printed is displayed. If the printing is instructed via the screen, the image is printed on the print medium.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/316,591 filed on Jun. 26, 2014 which claims the benefit of JapanesePatent Application No. 2013-137057 filed Jun. 28, 2013, both which arehereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Aspects of the present invention generally relate to a print controlapparatus for printing an image to be printed, a print control method,and a storage medium.

2. Description of the Related Art

Technology for controlling a print operation by comparing the sheet sizespecified through an operation panel of a printer or an operation screenof a device that transmits a print job with the size of sheets set inthe printer has been developed. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-OpenNo. 2007-203703 describes the following technology. That is, a sensorfor detecting a sheet size is provided in a printer. By comparing thesheet size preset in a print job with the detected sheet size, mismatchof the sheet sizes can be detected. If mismatch occurs, a mismatchmessage is sent to a user.

However, according to the technology described in Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2007-203703, if mismatch of the sheet sizes occurs, twooptions “continue the print process” and “cancel” are displayed on adisplay screen for a user.

In such a case, when the sheet size preset in the print job is largerthan the size of sheets set in the printer and if the user selects“continue the print process”, the image to be printed may be printedbeyond the edges of the sheet.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present invention generally provide a print controlapparatus, a print control method, and a storage medium capable ofprinting an image of an appropriate size based on a preset size and thesize of a print medium detected by a sensor. According to an aspect ofthe present invention, a print control apparatus includes adetermination unit configured to, if a preset size of a print medium setas print settings for data to be printed is not included in one or morecandidates of a size of the print medium obtained by a sensor thatdetects the size of the print medium, determine whether printing of animage having a size corresponding to the preset size on the print mediumis allowed based on the preset size and the one or more candidates, adisplay control unit configured to, if the determination unit determinesthat the printing is allowed, display, on a display unit, a screeninquiring whether an image based on the data to be printed having a sizecorresponding to the preset size is printed, and a print control unitconfigured to, if an instruction is provided to print the image based onthe data to be printed having a size corresponding to the preset sizevia the screen displayed by the display control unit, cause a print unitto print the image.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a printing mechanism of a printer.

FIG. 2 illustrates detection of a sheet width using a sheet sensor.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an exemplary configuration of the printer.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate sheet size tables according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print controlprocess.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a fitting process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the details of the fitting process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a process in a preset sheet size print mode.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a mismatch process 1.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a mismatch process 2.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an error screen displayed in themismatch process 1.

FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate examples of an error screen displayed in amismatch process 2.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a process performed during a copy operation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a printing mechanism of a printer 100 according to anexemplary embodiment. Print sheets are set in a paper feed tray 101. Afeed roller 103 feeds the print sheets set in the paper feed tray 101 toconveyance rollers 105 and 106. Each of print sheets 104 is fed by thefeed roller 103 and is conveyed by the conveyance rollers 105 and 106.As illustrated in FIG. 1, each of the print sheets 104 is conveyed bythe conveyance rollers 105 and 106 and passes through a conveyance pathformed by members 107 and 108. Thus, the print sheet 104 is conveyed toconveyance rollers 109 and 110. The conveyance rollers 109 and 110convey the print sheet 104 to a platen 111.

A carriage 113 having a print head 112 mounted thereon is disposed abovethe platen 111. The carriage 113 reciprocally scans along a guide rail114 in a direction of an arrow A illustrated in FIG. 1 (the directionfrom the front to the back of the page of FIG. 1) and a direction of anarrow B (the direction from the back to the front of the page of FIG.1). The printer 100 causes the carriage 113 to scan in the A directionand the B direction and applies driving pulses to the print head 112. Inthis manner, the printer 100 causes the print head 112 to eject arecording agent, such as ink. By causing the print head 112 to eject therecording agent onto the print sheet 104, the printer 100 prints animage to be printed on the print sheet 104. The print sheet 104 havingthe image printed thereon is further conveyed to sheet dischargingrollers 115 and 116 by the conveyance rollers 109 and 110. The sheetdischarging rollers 115 and 116 output the print sheet 104 onto a paperoutput tray 117.

The carriage 113 further includes a sheet sensor 118 mounted therein.The sheet sensor 118 is a reflective optical sensor. The printer 100acquires the output voltage level indicating the intensity of lightreceived by the sheet sensor 118 and determines whether the outputvoltage level is the same as the level of light reflected by a printsheet. In this manner, the printer 100 can detect whether the printsheet 104 is located at the position from which the light is received.In addition, as described above, the sheet sensor 118 is mounted in thecarriage 113 and, thus, the sheet sensor 118 scans together with theprint head 112. By detecting whether the print sheet 104 is located in ascan range in which the sheet sensor 118 scans, the printer 100 candetect the edges of the print sheet 104. Thus, the printer 100 candetect the width of the print sheet 104 on the basis of the distancebetween the right and left edges of the print sheet 104. The detectionprocess is described in detail with reference to FIG. 2. The scanningposition of the sheet sensor 118 (the carriage 113) is detected by anencoder 224 (described in more detail below).

The printer 100 includes the paper feed tray 101, the platen 111, theprint head 112, the carriage 113, the guide rail 114, the paper outputtray 117, as described above. In addition, the printer 100 includes theabove-described variety of rollers as a printing mechanism.

FIG. 2 illustrates detection of a sheet width using the sheet sensor118.

As described above, the printer 100 reciprocally moves the carriage 113along the guide rail 114 in the direction of the arrow A and thedirection of the arrow B. At the same time, the printer 100 causes theprint head 112 to eject a recording agent. In this manner, the printer100 prints an image on the print sheet 104. A head recovery mechanism119 for capping the print head 112 is disposed at a position of theplaten 111 outside the moving range of the carriage 113 (a position x ofthe sheet sensor). The position x of the sheet sensor is identified bythe position of the carriage 113 detected by an encoder 224 (describedin more detail below).

The sheet sensor 118 scans over the platen 111 to receive light anddetects the output voltage level of the received light. A graphillustrated in FIG. 2 represents the output voltage level detected bythe sheet sensor 118 in the moving range of the carriage 113. Note thataccording to the present exemplary embodiment, the print sheet 104 has abright color, such as white, and the platen 111 has a dark color, suchas black. Accordingly, a high output voltage level (a high-intensityreflected light from the print sheet 104) is acquired from a position atwhich the print sheet 104 is located on the platen 111. In contrast, alow output voltage level (a low-intensity reflected light from theplaten 111) is acquired from a position at which the print sheet 104 isnot located on the platen 111.

When the carriage 113 is located at the position of the head recoverymechanism 119, the sheet sensor 118 receives reflected light from theplaten 111 at a position E. Thereafter, if the carriage 113 moves in theA direction, the output voltage level rises at a position correspondingto an edge of the print sheet 104. The printer 100 continuously acquiresa substantially constant output voltage level during a period of timewhen the carriage 113 moves from the edge to an edge opposite to theedge of the print sheet 104. When the carriage 113 reaches the oppositeedge, the output voltage level falls.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, if the output voltagelevel of the sheet sensor 118 is higher than a predetermined thresholdvalue Vth, it is determined that the print sheet 104 is located at aposition at which the output voltage level is detected. Morespecifically, in FIG. 2, positions G and F indicate the positions of theedges of the print sheet 104. The range between the positions G and F isa range in which the print sheet 104 is located. Thus, the distancebetween the positions G and F is detected as the sheet width of theprint sheet 104.

Note that according to the present exemplary embodiment, the printer 100conveys the print sheet in a centered fashion so that the center of theprint sheet 104 coincides with the center position C of the platen 111.At that time, if the right edge of the print sheet 104 is displaced tothe right of a point E in FIG. 2, detection of the position of the rightedge of the print sheet 104 may fail.

Therefore, according to the present exemplary embodiment, if the rightedge of the print sheet 104 is displaced to the right of the point E,the printer 100 obtains the sheet width of the print sheet 104 using thedistance between the center position C and the position G of the leftedge of the print sheet 104. More specifically, if the output voltagelevel at the position E is higher than Vth, it is determined that theposition of the right edge of the print sheet 104 is located at theposition E or a position to the right of the position E. In such a case,the sheet width of the print sheet 104 is obtained by doubling thedistance between the center position C and the position G. That is,since the printer 100 conveys the print sheet 104 so that the center ofthe print sheet 104 coincides with the center position C, the distancebetween the center position C and the position G of the left edge of theprint sheet 104 is half the sheet width. Accordingly, the printer 100can obtain the sheet width by doubling the distance between the centerposition C and the position G. Note that the value indicating the centerposition C of the scanning area of the carriage is prestored in a memoryof the printer 100. By referring to the value, the printer 100 canobtain the distance between the center position C and the position G.

Note that the above-described threshold value Vth is not necessarily afixed value. For example, the threshold value Vth may be changed inaccordance with the output voltage level at the position E.Alternatively, the threshold value Vth may be determined in accordancewith the intensity of the reflected light caused by the characteristicsof the surface of a print medium. More specifically, the threshold valueVth may be determined in accordance with the type of print sheet (e.g.,plain paper or glossy paper). In the description above, to detect thepresence of a print sheet, it is determined whether the output voltagelevel is higher than the threshold value. However, it may be determinedwhether a print sheet is present by using a result of comparison of theoutput voltage level at the position E and the output voltage level atanother position. For example, if it is determined that the print sheetis not present at the position E using the output voltage level at theposition E, it may be determined that the print sheet is present at aposition at which the output voltage level is higher than the outputvoltage level at the position E by a predetermined value or greater.

In the method illustrated in FIG. 2, the carriage 113 includes the sheetsensor 118, and the sheet sensor 118 moves to detect a print sheet. Thetechnique is not limited thereto. For example, a sheet sensor may bedisposed on the platen 111 separately from the carriage 113. In such acase, by arranging a number of sheet sensors corresponding to the widthof the conveyance path of the print sheet 104 and determining whethereach of the sheet sensors detects the presence of the print sheet 104,the width of the print sheet 104 can be detected.

The configuration of the printer 100 is described next. FIG. 3 is ablock diagram of an exemplary configuration of the printer 100.

A CPU 201 is a processor for performing overall control of the printer100. The CPU 201 is connected to a program memory 203 (e.g., a read onlymemory (ROM) or a hard disk) and a data memory 204 (e.g., a randomaccess memory (RAM)) via an internal bus 202. The program memory 203stores a program for controlling the printer 100. The CPU 201 loads theprogram stored in the program memory 203 into the data memory 204 andexecutes the program using a work memory 205 assigned to the data memory204. Thus, the CPU 201 can control the printer 100. In addition, thedata memory 204 includes an image memory 206 assigned thereto. A varietyof data, such as image data to be printed by the printer 100, arerasterized in the image memory 206.

An interface control unit 207 communicates with a smart device 208, suchas a smartphone, via an interface under the control of the CPU 201. Forexample, the interface control unit 207 can receive a print job from thesmart device 208 and send the status information about the printer 100to the smart device 208. Note that the interface control unit 207 maycommunicate with the smart device 208 via a wired interface, such as auniversal serial bus (USB) cable, or a wireless interface, such as aninfrared communication interface or a wireless LAN. Examples of thesmart device 208 include, but not limited to, a smartphone, a tablet,and a cell phone.

The interface control unit 207 can communicate with not only the smartdevice 208 but a personal computer. In addition, the interface controlunit 207 can communicate with a server connected thereto via a network.Furthermore, the interface control unit 207 can communicate with afacsimile apparatus and a digital TV. Note that the printer 100 canreceive data to be printed from not only a print job but an externaldevice, such as a server, using the address information included in aprint job.

A motor control unit 209 controls a variety of motors for driving theprinting mechanism of the printer 100 under the control of the CPU 201.A conveyance motor 210 drives the feed roller 103, the conveyancerollers 105, 106, 109, and 110 and the sheet discharging rollers 115 and116 illustrated in FIG. 1 under the control of the motor control unit209. A carriage motor (CR motor) 211 drives the carriage 113 under thecontrol of the motor control unit 209 to reciprocally move the carriage113. A recovery motor 212 drives the head recovery mechanism 119 underthe control of the motor control unit 209.

A head control unit 213 controls the print head 112 under the control ofthe CPU 201 so that the print head 112 ejects the recording agent, suchas ink. By driving the print head 112 and the conveyance motor 210 atthe same time, the CPU 201 can scan the print head 112 and print animage on the print sheet 104. That is, the CPU 201 in the printer 100operates as a print control apparatus, which controls the variety ofmotors and the print head 112 serving as a printing mechanism to printan image using the printing mechanism.

Under the control of the CPU 201, a sensor control unit 214 causes asensor light source 215 included in the sheet sensor 118 to emit lightand causes an optical sensor 216 included in the sheet sensor 118 toreceive reflected light. In addition, the sensor control unit 214acquires the output voltage level indicating the intensity of the lightreceived by the optical sensor 216. The CPU 201 receives the outputvoltage level acquired by the sensor control unit 214. Thus, the CPU 201can detect the sheet width illustrated in FIG. 2. Note that byperforming a process described below, the CPU 201 can determine thesheet size including the height of the print sheet 104 in accordancewith the sheet size detected as described above.

A panel control unit 217 controls an operation panel 218 under thecontrol of the CPU 201. Note that the operation panel 218 includes anoperation device (e.g., keys or a touch panel) that a user operates anda display panel that can display a variety of information items, such asan image. For example, if the user operates the operation device of theoperation panel 218, an instruction from the user is input to the panelcontrol unit 217. Thereafter, the instruction is input to the CPU 201.In addition, upon receiving an instruction from the CPU 201, the panelcontrol unit 217 displays an image loaded into the image memory 206 onthe display panel of the operation panel.

A scanner control unit 219 controls a scanner 220 under the control ofthe CPU 201. The scanner control unit 219 causes the scanner 220 to scandocument placed on a platen glass of the scanner 220 and receives thereadout image. In addition, the scanner control unit 219 stores thereadout image in the image memory 206. A memory card control unit 221reads and writes a variety of data from and to a memory card 223 mountedin a memory card slot 222 under the control of the CPU 201.

An encoder 224 identifies the position of the carriage 113 when thecarriage 113 scans along the guide rail 114. The CPU 201 identifies theposition x of the sheet sensor illustrated in FIG. 2 using the positionof the carriage 113 identified by the encoder 224 and a position atwhich the sheet sensor 118 is mounted on the carriage 113.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the CPU 201 detects thesheet size including the height of the sheet in accordance with thesheet width detected by the sheet sensor 118 in the above-describedmanner. Note that in the printer 100 according to the present exemplaryembodiment, the sheet sensor 118 is provided in each of the print head112 and the carriage 113. The members such as the variety of motors andthe guide rail 114 for moving the carriage 113 and the encoder 224 foridentifying the position of the carriage 113 are used for a printoperation performed by the print head 112 and a sheet width detectingoperation performed by the sheet sensor 118. Accordingly, in order todetect the sheet width, the need for members other than theabove-described members for a print operation can be eliminated and,thus, an increase in the size of the printer 100 can be prevented.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate sheet size tables according to the presentexemplary embodiment. A sheet size table illustrated in FIG. 4A containsthe following fields: a sheet size 300 that can be used by the printer100, and a sheet width 301, a sheet height 302, and an aspect ratio 303corresponding to the sheet size. Note the sheet width 301 and the sheetheight 302 are expressed in units of millimeter (mm).

The sheet size table is stored in the program memory 203. By loading thesheet size table from the program memory 203 to the data memory 204, theCPU 201 can reference the sheet size table. Note that the informationregarding the sheet width 301 is not necessarily stored in the form of atable. That is, a variety of a technique for storing the sheet width 301in association with a sheet size can be employed.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the CPU 201 determinesthe size of the print sheet 104 in accordance with the sheet widthdetected by the sheet sensor 118. More specifically, the CPU 201determines the size of the print sheet 104 conveyed in the printer 100from the sheet size 300 having the sheet width 301 within apredetermined range of the sheet width detected by the sheet sensor 118.The reason for using the predetermined range is because an error mayoccur between the result of detection of the sheet sensor 118 and anactual sheet width due to a variation in the intensity of the reflectedlight in accordance with, for example, the state of the print sheet 104and an environment in which the printer 100 is installed.

For example, let the above-described predetermined range be ±3 mm. Then,if a sheet width of 126.0 mm is detected by the sheet sensor 118, thesheet size 300 corresponding to the sheet width 301 in the range from123.0 mm to 129.0 mm is selected as a candidate size of the print sheet104. As can be seen from the sheet size table in FIG. 4A, in such acase, the size “2L” corresponding to the sheet width 301 (127.0 mm) isselected as a candidate.

Alternatively, instead of uniquely selecting the sheet size, a pluralityof sheet sizes having a close sheet width may be selected as candidatesof the size of the print medium. For example, if a width of 99.0 mm isdetected by the sheet sensor 118 as the sheet width, the range of asheet width from 96.0 mm to 102.0 mm includes the sheet widths of anenvelope #6 (98.0 mm), a post card (100.0 mm), and a 4×6 sheet (101.6mm). Similarly, if a width of 213.0 mm is detected by the sheet sensor118 as the sheet width, an A4 size (the sheet width=210.0 mm) and aletter size (the sheet width=215.9 mm) are selected as candidates of thesheet size.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, if the size of a printsheet is preset as the print settings, it is determined whether one ormore candidates for the size of the print sheet detected by the sheetsensor 118 include the size specified by the user. If the size specifiedby the user is included in one or more candidates, an imagecorresponding to the specified size is printed on the print sheet.

However, if the size specified by the user as the print settings is notincluded in the one or more candidates, the print operation isrestricted.

Accordingly, if the user inadvertently specifies a size thatsignificantly differs from the size of the print sheet used in printingor if the print sheet having a size that significantly differs from thesize specified by the user is conveyed, an appropriate action can betaken. More specifically, in such a case, printing of an image having asize that significantly differs from the size of the print sheet can beprevented. The above-described process according to the presentexemplary embodiment is described in more detail below.

Note that the above-described print settings are made in accordance witha user instruction using, for example, a host computer or a smart devicethat transmits a print job to the printer 100. More specifically, thehost computer or the smart device displays, for the user, a displayscreen for setting up the size and type of the print sheet and marginsof the page set during printing. For example, the user selects data tobe printed first and, thereafter, performs print settings through theabove-described display screen. Thus, print settings can be made for thedata to be printed. Print setting information indicating the printsettings made by the user in this manner is sent from the host computeror the smart device to the printer 100 together with the data to beprinted. Note that the print setting information and the data to beprinted may be included in a print job and be sent to the printer 100.Alternatively, the data to be printed and the print setting informationmay be separately sent. Still alternatively, like a digital print orderformat (DPOF) file, the print setting information including the presetsheet size may be sent to the printer 100 in the form of a fileseparately from a file including the data to be printed.

Note that as illustrated in FIG. 2, according to the present exemplaryembodiment, if the print sheet 104 is large, one of the edges of theprint sheet 104 may go undetected by the sheet sensor 118. At that time,the sheet width is detected through calculation based on the distancebetween the center position C and the position G. In such a case, theprint sheet 104 may be conveyed with the center of the print sheet 104displaced from the center position C due to, for example, thecharacteristics of the print sheet 104. Accordingly, if one of the edgesof the print sheet 104 is not detected, the above-describedpredetermined range may be increased from ±3 mm to a relatively largevalue, for example, ±10 mm. In such a case, if, for example, a sheetwidth of 210 mm is detected, the following sheet sizes are selected asthe candidates: a double postal card size (the sheet size=200.0 mm), a6P size (the sheet size=203.2 mm), an A4 size (the sheet size=210.0 mm),and a letter size (the sheet size=215.9 mm).

In addition, in the above-described example, the sheet size included ina predetermined range (e.g., ±3 mm) from the sheet width detected by thesheet sensor 118 is selected. However, the range according to thetechnique is not limited thereto. For example, a sheet size included ina range that is larger than the detection result by a predeterminedwidth (e.g., +3 mm) may be selected. Conversely, a sheet size includedin a range that is smaller than the detection result by a predeterminedwidth may be selected. Alternatively, the predetermined range may bechanged in accordance with the type of the print sheet (e.g., plainpaper or glossy paper). For example, if the print sheet is a glossypaper sheet, the intensity of light reflected by the sheet is higherthan that of a plain paper sheet. At that time, the output voltage levelacquired at a position that is not the position of the print sheet bythe sheet sensor 118 may be higher than the predetermined thresholdvalue Vth and, thus, it may be determined that the print sheet islocated at the position. Accordingly, for example, if the type of printsheet is plain paper, the range may be set to the range of ±3 mm. Inaddition, if the type is glossy paper, the range may be set to the rangeof −6 mm. In addition, the predetermined range may be set in accordancewith various conditions, such as the characteristics of the sheet sensor118.

Furthermore, while the above description has been made with reference todetermination of the sheet size using the sheet size table illustratedin FIG. 4A, the sheet size table illustrated in FIG. 4B may be employed.

In addition to the information items in the sheet size table illustratedin FIG. 4A, the sheet size table illustrated in FIG. 4B further containssheet information 304 indicating a sheet size having a close sheetwidth. More specifically, in the table, the sheet size having an entryincluding the symbol “x” indicates a corresponding sheet size having aclose sheet width. For example, the sheet size table indicates that anA4 size and a letter size have sheet widths that are close to eachother. In addition, the sheet size table indicates that an envelope #6size, a post card size, and a 4×6 size have sheet widths that are closeto one another.

By loading the sheet size table illustrated in FIG. 4B from the programmemory 203 to the data memory 204, the CPU 201 can reference the sheetwidth 301. If the sheet width is detected by the sheet sensor 118, theCPU 201 identifies the sheet size corresponding to the detected sheetwidth. Thereafter, if a sheet size having a sheet width close to thedetected sheet width is found in the sheet size table, the CPU 201identifies a plurality of candidates of the sheet size including thesheet size having a close sheet width.

For example, if the sheet width detected by the sheet sensor 118 is 90.0mm, an L size is uniquely selected as the sheet size. In contrast, ifthe sheet width detected by the sheet sensor 118 is 99.0 mm, a post cardsize having a sheet width that is the closest to the detected sheetwidth is selected. In addition to the post card size, the envelope #6size and the 4×6 size specified in the sheet information 304 areselected.

As described above, the CPU 201 selects the sheet size of the printsheet having the sheet width 301 and further having the sheet height 302on the basis of the sheet size table illustrated in FIG. 4A or 4B.Thereafter, the CPU 201 performs a print process corresponding to theselected sheet size.

Note that the CPU 201 can select any sheet size other than the standardsheet sizes illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B as a sheet size to be set upand perform a print operation. More specifically, the user can specifythe sheet width and the sheet height in millimeters as the sheet size.Thereafter, by reducing or enlarging the image to be printed so that theimage fits the preset sheet width and height, the image having a sizethat fits the preset sheet size can be printed.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a print control processperformed by the CPU 201. Note that a program corresponding to theprocess illustrated in FIG. 5 is stored in the program memory 203. TheCPU 201 loads the program into the work memory 205 and executes theprogram in the work memory 205. In this manner, the CPU 201 can realizethe processes performed in the steps of the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 5.

In step S501, the CPU 201 receives print job data from the smart device208 and performs storage control to store the received print job data ina predetermined area of the data memory 204. Thereafter, commands in theprint job data are sequentially analyzed, and a process corresponding toeach of the commands is performed. Note that the print job data includesdata to be printed for the print job and the print setting informationindicating the print settings for the print process. That is, in stepS501, storage control is performed so that the data to be printed (or animage rasterized on the basis of the data to be printed) and the printsetting information are stored in the data memory 204.

In step S502, the above-described print setting information is extractedfrom a set of the commands in the print job data received in step S501.Thereafter, the sheet size in the print settings is acquired and isstored in a predetermined area of the work memory 205 as a preset sheetsize. The preset sheet size is specified by the user of the smart device208 through, for example, a screen of the smart device 208.

In step S503, the CPU 201 acquires the data format of the print job andstores the data format in a predetermined area of the work memory 205.Subsequently, in step S504, the CPU 201 examines the data format storedin step S503 and determines whether the data format is to be subjectedto a fitting process. More specifically, it is determined whether thedata format stored in step S503 is a predetermined format that is to besubjected to the fitting process. An example of the predetermined formatis a joint photographic experts group (JPEG) format. If, in step S504,the data format acquired in step S503 is JPEG, it is determined that thedata format is to be subjected to the fitting process. Thus, theprocessing proceeds to step S505, where the fitting process is performedas described below. However, if, in step S504, the data format acquiredin step S503 is a portable document format (PDF), the page size may bepredefined in the file. Accordingly, it is determined that a PDF is notto be subjected to the fitting process. Thus, the processing proceeds tostep S506, where a process in a preset sheet size print mode isperformed as described below. Note that instead of the size specified bythe user in the print settings, the page size defined in the PDF may beused as a preset sheet size.

In the process performed in step S504, not only the data format isreferenced but a reduce/enlarge setting in the print setting informationmay be referenced. For example, auto reduce/enlarge setting is specifiedas the reduce/enlarge setting, the processing may proceed to step S505after the determination in step S504 is made. Alternatively, thedetermination as to whether the data format is subjected to a fittingprocess may be made on the basis of a variety of conditions, such as thetype of a device that sends the print job received in step S501, theprotocol used in the reception, or the mode of the printer 100 when theprint job is received in step S501.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the fitting process performed in step S505 inFIG. 5.

In step S601, the CPU 201 controls the printing mechanism to perform afeed operation. Thus, the topmost print sheet 104 of sheets 102 stackedon the paper feed tray 101 is picked up by the feed roller 103 and isconveyed until the leading edge of the print sheet 104 reaches theposition of the platen 111. Subsequently, the processing performed bythe CPU 201 proceeds to step S602, where the CPU 201 controls thecarriage 113 and the sheet sensor 118 to perform a sheet width detectingoperation. Thereafter, the CPU 201 stores the detected sheet width in apredetermined area of the work memory 205 as sheet width information.

Subsequently, the processing performed by the CPU 201 proceeds to stepS603, where the CPU 201 references the sheet size table illustrated inFIG. 4A or 4B using the sheet width information stored in step S602 andextracts all the standard sheet sizes corresponding to the sheet widthindicated by the sheet width information. The CPU 201 stores theextracted standard sheet sizes in a predetermined area of the workmemory 205 as a candidate sheet size group.

Subsequently, the processing performed by the CPU 201 proceeds to stepS604, where the fitting process described below is performed. After thefitting process is completed, the processing performed by the CPU 201proceeds to step S605, where the CPU 201 controls the printing mechanismto print, on the print sheet 104, the image data subjected to thefitting process and stored in the image memory 206.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the details of the fitting processperformed in step S604 in FIG. 6.

In step S701, the CPU 201 determines whether borderless print setting isspecified for the print job received in step S501. According to thepresent exemplary embodiment, “margin setting” in the print settinginformation of the print job indicates whether borderless printing is tobe performed. For example, through a screen of the smart device 208 thatsends the print job, the user specifies whether borderless printing isto be performed. This specification is included in the print settinginformation. In step S701, by referencing the print setting information,the CPU 201 determines whether an image is printed in a borderless mode.

If, in step S701, the image is printed in a non-borderless mode, theprocessing proceeds to step S702. In step S702, the CPU 201 obtains theminimum sheet width among the sheet widths in the candidate sheet sizegroup and stores the minimum sheet width in a predetermined area of thework memory 205 as a layout width. Subsequently, in step S703, the CPU201 obtains the minimum sheet height among the sheet heights in thecandidate sheet size group and stores the minimum sheet height in apredetermined area of the work memory 205 as a layout height.

However, if, in step S701, a borderless print mode is selected for theprint job, the processing proceeds to step S704. In step S704, the CPU201 obtains the maximum sheet width among the sheet widths in thecandidate sheet size group and stores the maximum sheet width in apredetermined area of the work memory 205 as a layout width.Subsequently, in step S705, the CPU 201 obtains the maximum sheet heightamong the sheet heights in the candidate sheet size group and stores themaximum sheet height in a predetermined area of the work memory 205 as alayout height.

After the CPU 201 determines the layout widths and the layout heightsthrough the processes performed in steps S701 to S705, the processingperformed by the CPU 201 proceeds to step S706. In step S706, the CPU201 reduces or enlarges the image to be printed based on the data to beprinted contained in the print job data so that the image fits thestored layout width and layout height. Thereafter, the CPU 201 storesthe image in the image memory 206 in the data memory 204.

If a borderless mode is specified, the image to be printed is laid outin a layout area that is larger than the candidate sheet size throughthe processes illustrated in FIG. 7. Accordingly, the image can beprinted in a borderless mode on a sheet that has any one of the printsheet sizes in the candidate sheet size group and that is set in theprinter.

Note that in the above description, in either using non-borderless orborderless mode, the maximum or minimum width and height are obtainedfrom the candidate sheet size group, and the layout width and layoutheight are determined. However, a sheet size that does not support theborderless mode may be included in accordance with the structure of theplaten 111 of the printer 100, the type of sheet, or the use of thesheet. In such a case, in the layout determination process performed forthe borderless mode in steps S705 and S706, the maximum width and themaximum height may be obtained from among only the sheet sizes in thecandidate sheet size group that support the borderless mode.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a preset sheet size print mode performed instep S506 in FIG. 5. Since the processes performed in steps S801 throughS803 are the same as those in steps S601 through S603 described above,respectively, description of the processes is not repeated.

In step S804, the CPU 201 determines whether the preset sheet sizeacquired in step S502 is included in the candidate sheet size groupacquired in step S802. If it is determined that the preset sheet size isincluded in the candidate sheet size group, the processing proceeds tostep S805, where printing is performed in accordance with the presetsheet size.

However, if, in step S804, it is determined that the preset sheet sizeis not included in the candidate sheet size group, the processingproceeds to step S806, where the print sheet conveyed on the platen isejected.

Subsequently, the processing proceeds to step S807, where the minimumsheet width is acquired from the candidate sheet size group and isstored in a predetermined area of the work memory 205 as the minimumwidth among the widths of the candidate sheet sizes.

Subsequently, in step S808, the CPU 201 compares the width of the presetsheet size and the minimum width among the widths of the candidate sheetsizes stored in step S807. If it is determined that the width of thepreset sheet size is less than the minimum width among the widths of thecandidate sheet sizes, the processing proceeds to step S809, where amismatch process 1 (described in more detail below) is performed. Whenthe width of the preset sheet size is less than the minimum width amongthe widths of the candidate sheet sizes and if, for example, the imageto be printed is printed to fit the preset sheet size, the image can beprinted without losing the side portions of the image, since the widthof the image is less than the width of the print sheet set in theprinter. Thus, if the width of the preset sheet size is less than theminimum width among the widths of the candidate sheet sizes, it isdetermined that printing of an image having a size corresponding to thepreset sheet size on a sheet set in the printer 100 is allowed.Accordingly, the mismatch process 1 provides the user with an option toperform printing so that the image is printed to fit the preset sheetsize. The mismatch process 1 is described in more detail below.

However, if it is determined that the width of the preset sheet size isnot less than the minimum width among the widths of the candidate sheetsizes, it can be determined that the size having a width that is greaterthan the width of the preset sheet size is included in the candidatesheet sizes. For example, the width of the preset sheet size is greaterthan any one of the widths of the candidate sheet sizes, a mismatchprocess 2 is performed in step S810. Alternatively, when the size havinga width less than the width of the preset sheet size and the size havinga width greater than the width of the preset sheet size are included inthe candidate sheet sizes and if the width of the preset sheet size isnot included in the above-described ranges of the widths of thecandidate sheet sizes, the mismatch process 2 is performed in step S810.In such a case, if an image having a size corresponding to the presetsheet size is printed on a print sheet set in the printer 100, the imagewith some section missing may be printed, since the width of the imageis greater than the width of the print sheet. Accordingly, if it isdetermined that the width of the preset sheet size is not less than theminimum width among the widths of the candidate sheet sizes, it isdetermined in step S808 that printing of an image having a sizecorresponding to the preset sheet size on a sheet set in the printer 100is not allowed. Thereafter, the mismatch process 2 is performed. In themismatch process 2, control is performed so that an option to selectprinting an image to fit the preset sheet size is not provided to theuser. The mismatch process 2 is described in more detail below.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the mismatch process 1 performed in step S809in FIG. 8.

In step S901, the CPU 201 performs display control so that a commonmismatch warning screen is displayed on the operation panel 218. Asillustrated in FIG. 11, the common mismatch warning screen allows theuser to be aware that a correct type of sheet may not be set in theprinter. At the same time, the preset sheet size included in the printjob is displayed (a reference number 1101). In this manner, the user canbe aware of the correct size of a sheet to be set.

In step S902, the CPU 201 enters in a ready mode until the user pressesan “OK” key (not illustrated) on the operation panel 218. Upon detectingthat the user presses the “OK” key, the processing proceeds to stepS903, where the CPU 201 performs display control so that a mismatchwarning screen 1 is displayed on the operation panel 218. As illustratedin FIG. 12A, the mismatch warning screen 1 includes the following threeoptions that the user can select: “Continue without changing sheets” (areference number 1201), “Change sheets and continue to print” (areference number 1202), and “Cancel (a reference number 1203)”.

The option “Continue without changing sheets” inquires whether the useraccepts mismatch between the sheet sizes and still continues to print animage that fits the preset sheet size on the print sheet currently setin the printer. For example, when the preset sheet size specified in theprint job is B5 and if the user currently has only A4 sheets, the userselects this option. Alternatively, in some cases, the user prints anL-sized picture on an A4 plain paper sheet in order to check the resultof printing before the user prints the picture on an L-sized photo papersheet. That is, in general, a glossy photo paper sheet is more costlythan a plain paper sheet. Accordingly, to check the print result of apicture, the user may print the picture on an A4 plain paper sheet thatis larger than an L-sized paper sheet for test purpose before the userprints the picture on an L-size photo paper sheet. The above-describedoption “Continue without changing sheets” is selected by a user for sucha purpose.

The option “Change sheets and continue to print” is selected when theuser is aware that mismatch of the sheet sizes occurs and wants tochange the sheets to sheets that fit the sheet size specified in theprint job and continue printing. At that time, as described above, thepreset sheet size specified in the print job is displayed in the commonmismatch warning screen. Accordingly, the user can set sheets havingthat size on the paper feed tray 101. The option “Cancel” is selectedwhen the user cancels printing.

After the mismatch warning display screen 1 is displayed, the processingproceeds to step S904, where the CPU 201 enters a ready state to waitfor user's confirmation of the selection. By pressing an “UP” key or a“DOWN” key (not illustrated) on the operation panel 218, the user canselect one of the three options. Thereafter, by pressing an “OK” key,the user can confirm the selected option. Upon detecting that the userperforms an operation to confirm the selection, the processing proceedsto step S905, where the CPU 201 determines which option is selected. Ifthe “Continue without changing sheets” option is selected, theprocessing proceeds to step S906.

In step S906, the print sheet is fed from the paper feed tray 101 again.Thereafter, the processing proceeds to step S907, where an image to beprinted having a size corresponding to the preset sheet size included inthe print job is printed on the print sheet fed in step S906.

Note that in the mismatch process 1 according to the present exemplaryembodiment, the preset sheet size is not included in the candidate sheetsize group, and the width is less than each of the widths of thecandidate sheet size group. Accordingly, if the user selects the“Continue without changing sheets” option and, thus, the printingcontinues, an image having a width that is less than the width of theprint sheet set in the printer is printed. Consequently, the image to beprinted can be printed on the print sheet without losing any portion ofthe image in the width direction of the print sheet.

In contrast, if, in step S905, the user selects the “Change sheets andcontinue to print” option, the process in the preset sheet size printingmode is performed in step S506 again. At that time, control is performedso that an image to be printed in the print job received in step S501and the print setting information, such as the preset sheet sizeacquired in step S502, stored in the data memory 204 are maintained.Accordingly, even when the user does not re-transmit the print job or donot perform an operation to specify the preset sheet size, the processillustrated in FIG. 8 can be performed again by changing the printsheets set in the printer 100. In this manner, the operations from thefeed operation to a sheet width detecting operation are performed againand, thus, mismatch about the changed sheet can be checked.

If, in step S905, the “Cancel” option is selected, the print job isdiscarded, and the processing is completed. More specifically, the imageto be printed in the print job received in step S501 and the printsetting information, such as the preset sheet size received in stepS502, become deletable from the data memory 204.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the mismatch process 2 performed in step S809in FIG. 8. In the mismatch process 2, the CPU 201 displays the commonmismatch warning screen on the operation panel 218 first in step S1001.The common mismatch warning screen is the same as that displayed in stepS901 of the mismatch process 1 described above.

Subsequently, in step S1002, the CPU 201 enters in a ready mode untilthe user presses an “OK” key (not illustrated) on the operation panel218. Upon detecting that the user presses the “OK” key, the processingproceeds to step S1003, where the CPU 201 performs display control sothat a mismatch warning screen 2 is displayed on the operation panel218. As illustrated in FIG. 12B, the mismatch warning screen 2 includesthe following two options that the user can select: “Change sheets andcontinue to print” (a reference number 1204) and “Cancel” (a referencenumber 1205). Unlike the mismatch warning display screen 1, the“Continue without changing sheets” option is not displayed in themismatch warning display screen 2 and, thus, the user cannot select the“Continue without changing sheets” option. After the mismatch warningdisplay screen 2 is displayed, the processing proceeds to step S1004,where the CPU 201 waits for user's confirmation of the selection.

By pressing an “UP” key or a “DOWN” key (not illustrated) on theoperation panel 218, the user selects one of the two options.Thereafter, by pressing an “OK” key, the user can confirm the selectedoption. Upon detecting that the user confirms the selection, theprocessing proceeds to step S1005, where the CPU 201 determines whichoption is selected. If the “Change sheets and continue to print” optionis selected, the process in step S506 is performed. That is, the processin the preset sheet size print mode is performed. In this manner, theoperations from the feed operation to a sheet width detecting operationare performed again and, thus, mismatch about the changed sheet can bechecked. However, if, in step S1005, the “Cancel” option is selected,the print job is discarded, and the processing is completed.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, it isdetermined whether the preset sheet size specified in the print settingsis included in the candidate sheet sizes obtained by detecting the printsheet set in the printer using the sheet sensor. If the preset sheetsize is not included in the candidate sheet sizes, the warning screen isdisplayed to the user.

If, in the warning screen, the width of the preset sheet size is lessthan the width of any one of the candidate sheet sizes, the “Continuewithout changing sheets” option is provided to the user through themismatch process 1. However, if a size having a width greater than thewidth of the preset sheet size is included in the candidate sheet sizes,the “Continue without changing sheets” option is not provided to theuser through the mismatch process 2.

That is, if a size having a width greater than the width of the presetsheet size is included in the candidate sheet sizes, the image without aside portion may be printed. Thus, through the mismatch process 2,control is performed so that an option to print an image to fit thepreset sheet size is not provided to the user in the warning screen. Inthis manner, printing of an image being cropped in the width directioncan be prevented, as described above.

In step S808, the width of the preset sheet size is compared with eachof the widths of the candidate sheet sizes. However, in addition to thecomparison of the widths, the height of the preset sheet size may becompared with each of the heights of the candidate sheet sizes. If thewidth of the preset sheet size is less than the minimum width of thecandidate sheet sizes and if the height of the preset sheet size is lessthan the minimum height of the candidate sheet sizes, the mismatchprocess 1 may be performed. Otherwise, the mismatch process 2 may beperformed.

In this manner, printing of an image being cropped in not only the widthdirection but the height direction can be prevented. That is, if thewidth of the preset sheet size is less than the minimum width of thecandidate sheet sizes and if the height of the preset sheet size is lessthan the minimum height of the candidate sheet sizes, any one of thecandidate sheet sizes of sheets set in the printer is larger than thepreset sheet size. At that time, if the user selects the “Continuewithout changing sheets” option displayed through the mismatch process1, the whole image to be printed corresponding to the preset sheet sizeis printed on the print sheet. However, if the mismatch process 2 isperformed, an edge of an image to be printed having a size correspondingto the preset sheet size in one or both of the width and heightdirection does not protrude beyond the edge of the print sheet and,thus, any portion of the image is not cropped in printing.

While the above exemplary embodiment has been described with referenceto a print job received from the smart device 208 connected to theprinter via the interface, printing may be remotely performed via atelephone line or a network line. In addition, while the above exemplaryembodiment has been described with reference to a print job sent fromthe smart device 208, the print job may be sent from a device other thana smart device (e.g., a cell phone, a host computer, or a digital TV)instead of the smart device 208. In addition, the printer may directlyreceive a print job from a device that the user operates or receive aprint job via an intermediate device, such as a server or a cloudservice.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of a process performed by the CPU 201 when a copyoperation is performed in the printer 100 according to the presentexemplary embodiment. Note that since the configurations of a printingmechanism, a platen 111, a print head 112, and a control unit of theprinter 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment are the sameas those described above, descriptions of the configurations are notrepeated.

The processes indicated by the flowchart are performed by the CPU 201when a user selects a copy function displayed on the operation panel 218of the printer 100. In step S1301, the CPU 201 displays a copy settingscreen (not illustrated) on the operation panel 218 of the printer 100first. The copy setting screen is used by the user to specify parametersrelated to a copy operation, such as the copy sheet size, the number ofcopies, the print density, copy reduce/enlarge settings, andborderless/non-borderless printing. At that time, the CPU 201 monitorsan input of user operation performed on the operation panel 218 andreceives an instruction to change the parameters or an instruction tostart a copy operation. If, in step S1302, the CPU 201 receives aninstruction to start a copy operation, the processing performed by theCPU 201 proceeds to step S1303. In step S1303, the CPU 201 acquires asheet size selected by the user in step S1301 and stores the selectedsheet size in a predetermined area of the work memory 205 as presetsheet size information. Thereafter, the processing proceeds to stepS1304, where the CPU 201 acquires the copy reduce/enlarge settingsspecified by the user in step S1301 and stores the copy reduce/enlargesettings in a predetermined area of the work memory 205 as preset copyreduce/enlarge setting information. Thereafter, the processing proceedsto step S1305, where the CPU 201 determines whether the stored presetcopy reduce/enlarge setting indicates an auto reduce/enlarge mode. Ifthe stored preset copy reduce/enlarge setting indicates autoreduce/enlarge mode, the processing proceeds to step S1306, where theabove-described fitting process is performed. However, if, in stepS1305, the copy reduce/enlarge setting indicates a mode other than theauto reduce/enlarge mode (e.g., an “actual page size” mode or an “A4 toB5” standard size mode), the processing proceeds to step S1307, wherethe above-described preset sheet size printing process is performed.Since the fitting process and the preset sheet size printing process arethe same as those in the above description, descriptions of theprocesses are not repeated.

Note that the “preset sheet size” described in the above-describedexemplary embodiment is not limited to the size specified by the userusing a device that transmits the print job. For example, the size maybe input to the printer 100 by the user using the operation panel 218 ofthe printer 100. In addition, the “preset sheet size” is not limited tothe size specified by the user. For example, the preset sheet size maybe automatically set in accordance with a variety of conditions, such asthe type of device or the type of application that transmit the printjob or the print mode of the printer 100.

While the above exemplary embodiment has been described with referenceto determination of the size of a print sheet on the basis of the resultof detection output from the sheet sensor 118 when printing is performedon the basis of the print job received from an external device of theprinter 100 or when a copy function of the printer 100 is performed, thetime the determination is made is not limited thereto. For example, theabove-described determination of the print sheet size may be made whenan image stored in the memory card 223 mounted in the memory card slot222 is printed on the basis of the print settings set by the userthrough the operation panel 218. Alternatively, in step S504, if thesheet size is not specified in the print setting information indicatingthe print settings set by the user, the above-described fitting processmay be performed. Note that the case where the sheet size is notspecified in the print setting information includes the case where thesheet size is not included the print setting information. In addition,the case where the sheet size is not specified in the print settinginformation includes the case where the print setting informationincludes an instruction to perform a sheet size setting process inaccordance with the sheet size corresponding to the result of detectionof the sheet width by the sheet sensor 118.

In addition, when the user prints an image using the printer 100 inaccordance with the print settings specified by the user, the image maybe stored in not only the external memory, such as the memory card 223,but an internal memory of the printer 100. Alternatively, an imagestored in an external device connected to the printer 100 (e.g., aserver) may be printed in accordance with the print settings specifiedby the user through the operation panel 218 of the printer 100.

Still furthermore, while the above-described exemplary embodiment hasbeen described with reference to an example in which the sheet sensor118 of the printer 100 detects the width of a sheet, the height of thesheet may be detected by the sensor. Alternatively, both the width andheight may be detected. In either detection method, if a plurality ofcandidates of the size of the print sheet used in the printer 100 exist,an appropriate sheet size can be selected through the processesaccording to the above-described exemplary embodiment.

In addition, application of the present exemplary embodiment is notlimited to the case in which the sheet size is automatically detected bya sensor. For example, the user may specify, through the operation panelof the printer, the sheet size of sheets stored in a cassette of aprinter or the sheet size of a sheet set in a manual paper feeding portby the user. Thereafter, the sheet size automatically detected by thesensor in the above-described exemplary embodiment may be replaced withthe size specified by the user. In this manner, the above-describedprocesses may be performed.

Note that in such a case, the user can specify the sheet size at anytime. For example, a sensor that detects whether the cassette of theprinter is open or closed or a sensor for detecting the presence of asheet in the manual paper feeding port is provided in the printer. Ifthe sensor detects that the cassette is opened and, thereafter, isclosed or if the sensor detects that a sheet is set in the manual paperfeeding port, a screen used by the user to specify the size and type ofthe sheet is displayed on the operation panel of the printer. In thismanner, the size specified by the user through the screen may be usedinstead of the size detected by the sensor in the above-describedexemplary embodiment.

While the above exemplary embodiment has been described with referenceto the determination process illustrated in FIG. 6 and performed by theCPU 201 of the printer 100 serving as the print control apparatus, thedevice serving as the print control apparatus is not limited thereto.For example, the processes according to the present exemplary embodimentmay be performed by a host computer or a server that causes the printer100 connected thereto to perform printing. At that time, the hostcomputer or the server serves as the print control apparatus accordingto the present exemplary embodiment.

More specifically, when the host computer, the server, or the smartdevice transmits a print job to the printer 100, the process illustratedin FIG. 5 is performed. That is, when such a device transmits the printjob to the printer 100, information regarding the sheet width of a printsheet detected by the sheet sensor 118 of the printer 100 is acquired.Thereafter, a candidate of the size of the print sheet is identified inaccordance with the sheet width indicated by the acquired information,and a layout area is identified using the identified candidate and thepreset sheet size. Thereafter, for the layout area, an image to beprinted is rasterized in the memory of the host computer, the server, orthe smart device. The rasterized image is sent to the printer 100 in theform of a print job. Thereafter, the printer 100 performs printing. Morespecifically, under the control of the CPU 201 of the printer 100, theprinting mechanism of the printer 100 prints the image received from thehost computer, the server, or the smart device on the print sheet.

Note that in the above-described configuration, if the printingoperation is canceled in FIG. 9 or 10, an error message is issued in thehost computer, the server, or the smart device. More specifically, thescreens illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 are displayed in the hostcomputer, the server, or the smart device. If the error message isdisplayed by the host computer, the error message is displayed on adisplay unit of the host computer or an external display unit connectedto the host computer. If the error message is displayed by the server,the server sends the information regarding the error message to a clientdevice that sent the print job to the server, and the client devicedisplays the error message on an internal display unit or an externaldisplay unit of the client device.

As another example in which the host computer, the server, or the smartdevice performs the processes according to the present exemplaryembodiment, the processes other than the processes in step S605 of FIG.6, step S704 of FIG. 7, step S805 of FIG. 8, and step S907 of FIG. 9 maybe performed by the host computer, the server, or the smart device. Insuch a case, printing of an image to be printed stored in the imagememory 206 is performed by the printing mechanism under the control ofthe CPU 201 of the printer 100. Comparison of the preset sheet size andeach of the candidate sheet sizes and the rasterizing process of theimage to be printed before printing process is performed are performedby the host computer, the server, or the smart device. Alternatively,the processes according to the present exemplary embodiment can beassigned to the printer 100 and one of the host computer, the server,and the smart device in a various way.

While the above exemplary embodiment has been described with referenceto a paper print sheet as an example of a print medium on which an imageis printed by a printer, the print medium is not limited thereto. Forexample, an overhead projector (OHP) sheet may be employed. In addition,the shape of the print medium is not limited to rectangle. For example,the print medium may be a disk-shaped recording medium, such as acompact disc (CD) or a digital versatile disk (DVD).

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

Additional embodiments can also be realized by a computer of a system orapparatus that reads out and executes computer executable instructionsrecorded on a storage medium (e.g., computer-readable storage medium) toperform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s), and by a method performed by the computer of the systemor apparatus by, for example, reading out and executing the computerexecutable instructions from the storage medium to perform the functionsof one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). The computer maycomprise one or more of a central processing unit (CPU), microprocessing unit (MPU), or other circuitry, and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate computer processors. The computerexecutable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example,from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include,for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), aread only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, anoptical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD),or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and thelike.

The computer executable instructions for realizing the functionsaccording to the present exemplary embodiment may be executed by asingle computer (a CPU or an MPU) or a plurality of computers thatcooperate with one another. Alternatively, the computer executableinstructions may be executed by a computer or hardware that is designedto provide the functions (e.g., a circuit). Still alternatively, thefunction of some of the computer executable instructions may be providedby hardware, and the computer executable instructions for the remainingfunctions may be executed by a computer.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that these exemplaryembodiments are not seen to be limiting. The scope of the followingclaims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompassall such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus, comprising: an operationpanel, and a print unit configured to print an image, wherein theoperation panel displays a first screen for a user to designate a sizeof a print medium, if a cassette for containing the print medium isoperated, and wherein, if a setting medium size set as a print settingfor printing of an image is different from a designated size which hasbeen designated in the first screen, the operation panel furtherdisplays a second screen, and wherein the operation panel provides theuser with a first option for executing the printing in a state that asecond option for inhibiting the printing can be selected in theoperation panel by the user, in accordance with an instruction by theuser to the second screen, and wherein the print unit prints the imageif the first option is selected by the user, and does not print theimage if the second option is selected by the user.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the operation panel provides the firstoption by displaying a first display item corresponding to the firstoption
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second screenindicates the setting medium size.
 4. The apparatus according to claim1, wherein the print unit prints the image in accordance with thesetting medium size, regardless of the designated size, if the firstoption is selected.
 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theoperation panel provides the first option if the setting medium size issmaller than the designated size, and does not provide the first option,if the setting medium size is larger than the designated size.
 6. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print unit prints the imagehaving a size corresponding to the setting size, if the first option isselected.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operationpanel displays the second screen if an opened cassette closes.
 8. Theapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the cassette.
 9. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the print unit prints the imageeven if the setting medium size is different from the designated size,if an auto reduce/enlarge setting is set.
 10. The apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising a reading unit configured to read anoriginal, and the image is a read image obtained by reading of theoriginal by the reading unit.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein an inputting unit configured to input the image transmitted froman external device, and the print unit prints the image input by theinputting unit.
 12. A printing apparatus, comprising: a display unit,and a print unit configured to print an image, wherein the display unitdisplays a first screen for a user to designate a size of a printmedium, if a cassette for containing the print medium is operated, andwherein, if a setting medium size set as a print setting for printing ofan image is different from a designated size which has been designatedin the first screen, the display unit further displays a second screen,and wherein the display unit further displays a first display item forexecuting the printing and a second display item for inhibiting theprinting can be selected by the user, in accordance with an instructionby the user to the second screen, and wherein the print unit prints theimage if the first display item is designated by the user, and does notprint the image if the second display item is designated by the user.13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the display unitfurther displays a third display item for prompting a user to change theprint medium contained in the cassette, if the setting medium size isdifferent from the designated size.
 14. The apparatus according to claim12, wherein the display unit displays the first display item and thesecond display item in a same screen.
 15. The apparatus according toclaim 12, wherein the second screen indicates the setting medium size.16. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the print unit printsthe image in accordance with the setting medium size, regardless of thedesignated size, if the first display item is designated.
 17. Theapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the display unit displays thefirst display item if the setting medium size is smaller than thedesignated size, and does not display the first display item, if thesetting medium size is larger than the designated size.
 18. Theapparatus according to claim 12, wherein the print unit prints the imagehaving a size corresponding to the setting size, if the first displayitem is designated.
 19. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein thedisplay unit displays the second screen if an opened cassette closes.20. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising thecassette.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the printunit prints the image even if the setting medium size is different fromthe designated size, if an auto reduce/enlarge setting is set.
 22. Theapparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a reading unitconfigured to read an original, and the image is a read image obtainedby reading of the original by the reading unit.
 23. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein an inputting unit configured to input theimage transmitted from an external device, and the print unit prints theimage input by the inputting unit.
 24. A control method for controllinga printing apparatus including an operation panel and a print unitconfigured to print an image, the method comprising: displaying a firstscreen on an operation panel for a user to designate a size of a printmedium if a cassette for containing the print medium is operated;displaying a second screen on the operation panel, if a setting mediumsize set as a print setting for printing of an image is different from adesignated size which has been designated in the first screen;providing, via the operation panel, the user with a first option forexecuting the printing in a state that a second option for inhibitingthe printing can be selected in the operation panel by the user, inaccordance with an instruction by the user to the second screen, andprinting the image via the print unit if the first option is selected bythe user, and not printing the image if the second option is selected bythe user.
 25. A control method for controlling a printing apparatusincluding an display unit and a print unit configured to print an image,the method comprising: displaying, via the display unit, a first screenfor a user to designate a size of a print medium if a cassette forcontaining the print medium is operated; displaying a second screen, viathe display unit, if a setting medium size set as a print setting forprinting of an image is different from a designated size which has beendesignated in the first screen; displaying, via the display unit, afirst display item for executing the printing and a second display itemfor inhibiting the printing can be selected by the user, in accordancewith an instruction by the user to the second screen, and printing theimage, via the print unit, if the first display item is designated bythe user, and not printing the image if the second display item isdesignated by the user.